Bicycle



PatntedSept. l3, I898.

J. F. FOSTER.

BICYCLE.

Aug. 20, 1897 3 Sheets-$heet I.

(No Model.)

Patented Sept. l3, I898.

J. F. FOSTER.

B C Y C L E Application filed Aug. 20, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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Patented Sept. l3, I898.

J. F. FOSTER.

Bl C Y C L E (Applica tion filed Aug. 20, 1897.)

3 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

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PATENT Fries.

JOHN F. FOSTER, OF MAROELINE, MISSOURI.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,582, dated September 13, 1898. Application filed August 20, 1897, Serial No. 648,859. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN F. FOSTER, of Marcelino, Linn county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to bicycles, and my object is to generally improve this'class of vehicles.

The invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents in side elevation a bicycle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating the construction of the wheel-bearings. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section of a pedal of my improved construction. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line V V of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the bearing of the crank-shaft.

In the said drawings, where like numerals designate corresponding parts, 1 designates the frame of a bicycle, and 2 the hub thereof.

3 designates a pair of circular plates secured within the hub and provided with annular grooves or ways in their inner edges.

4 designates a crank shaft extending through said hub concentrically of said grooved bearing-plates or guideways 3.

5 5 designate a pair of adjustable cones, which are screwed upon said shaft and are provided at their opposing ends with the hollow sleeves 6, so as to form conjoin tly an'annular groove or channel, and near their outer ends with rounded surfaces or ways 7, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

8 designates a series of male rollers which are arranged equidistant and are adapted to travel in the grooved surfaces 6, and said rollers are provided with circular flanges or shoulders 9, for a purpose which will presently appear. 10 designates shafts upon which said rollers are formed or secured, and mounted or formed upon the opposite end of said shafts are smaller rollers 11, which serve to guard against lateral displacement of the central rollers 8 by traveling in or upon the grooved ways 3 and the convex surface '7 of the cones 5. 12 designates a series of similar rollers, which perform the function of maintaining the rollers 8 at the required distance apart, and also, in conjunction with said ways 3, of holding them upon the bearing-cones at all times. Said rollers 12 occupy the same vertical plane as the rollers 8 and are held in proper position by means of the encircling ring 13, which fits snugly in the grooved or concaved outer surface of said rollers, as shown. The cones are also reliably secured at the proper point upon the shaft by means of the retaining-nuts l4, and to prevent the access of dust or other foreign matter or particles to the bearing I preferably employ circular rings 15, which are turned inwardly at their inner margins so as to fit snugly in the annular grooves 16, formed in the outer ends of said cones. (See Fig. 3.) By means of the hub-casing and said plates it is obvious that it will be impossible for dust to enter the bearing.

In practice as the crank-shaft is rotated the bearing comprising the cones and the wheels rotates with the least possible friction, being constructed, of course, of case-hardened steel and properly proportioned and finished.

- Referring now to Figs. 4; and 5 particularly, it will be noticed that the pedals are also provided with a roller-bearin g of the same typethat is to say, the pedal-pin 18, corresponding to the shaft 4., upon which is mounted the skeleton pedal 19, is provided with adj ustable cones 22,provided with concave bearing-surfaces 23 at their opposing ends and concave surfaces 24 at their outer ends.

A series of rollers 25, corresponding to the rollers 8, traveling in bearing-surfaces23, are provided with the shoulders 26, correspond ing with the flanges or shoulders 9. Said rollers are also provided with or mounted upon shafts 27, carrying rollers 28attheir opposite ends, which travel in ways 20" and bearing-surfaces 24, said ways being also inclosed by a casing 21, corresponding to the the bearings for the crank-shafts of the pedals-that is to say, 33 designates a stationary shaft or axle for said wheels. 34 designates cones mounted thereon, provided with concave bearing-surfaces 41 and 42.

vals and are provided at opposite sides with mounted and arranged to travel in grooves side plates 35, said side plates at their outer margins being provided with circular flanges 36, to which the inner ends of the spokes 37 of the Wheels are secured.

A circular casing 38 connects the side plates,

as shown or in any other suitable manner,

and brace-bars and tie-rods 39 and 40,-respec- I tively, clamp said plates firmly against the opposite ends of said casing.

A series of grooved rollers 47, corresponding in function to the rollers 12 and 29, en-

' gage the adjacent rollers 43, so as to maintain them at the required distance apart, and is in turn engaged and held in place by the circular rings 48, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. A pair of circular plates 49 are secured to the outer sides of the circular ways 35, and are provided with cylindrical extensions 50, which concentrically surround the shaft, and one of said extensions is formed or provided with a sprocket-wheel 51 for connection with the sprocket-wheel 51, mounted on the crankshaft through the medium of the chain 51*.

The shaft or axle of the rear wheel, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with nuts 53 to hold the cones in their properrelative positions and with clamping-nuts 54 to bear at opposite sides of the slotted ends of the rear forks 55 of the frame in the customary manner.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a bicycle embodying features of general improvement, and it is to be understood that changes may be resorted to in its construction which do not involve a departure from its spirit and scope.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bicycle, a bearing for crank-shaft, pedals and wheels, a shaft or pin, cones or sleeves mounted thereon and provided with grooved bearing-surfaces, male rollers traveling thereon and provided with circular shoul- I ders, grooved rollers resting upon said shoul- A series of rollers 43 fit snugly in and travel 1 upon the grooved surface 41 at regular interders and separating the first-named rollers, a ring encircling and fitting in the grooves of the said last-named series of rollers, comcircular shoulders or flanges 44. Arranged axially of said rollers also are shafts 45, upon 5 the outer ends of which smaller rollers 46 are panion series of rollers mounted upon the same shafts and at opposite sides of the first series and traveling upon said cones, plates 1 provided with circular grooved Ways embrac- 42 of the cones and grooves or ways of the,

ing the outer sides of said companion series of rollers, and nuts to retain the cones in position, substantially as described.

2. In a bicycle, a bearing for crank-shaft, pedals and wheels, a shaft or pin, cones or sleeves mounted thereon and provided with grooved bearing-surfaces, male rollers traveling thereon and provided with circular shoulders, grooved rollers resting upon said shoulders and separating the first-named rollers, a

ring encircling and fitting in the grooves of the last-named series of rollers, companion series of rollers mounted upon the same shafts and at opposite sides of the first series and traveling upon said cones, plates provided with circular grooved ways embracing the outer sides of said companion series of rollers, nuts to retain the cones in position, rings secured to said plates and bridging the spaces between them and said cones, and a circular casing inclosing said plates, whereby dust is excluded.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. FOSTER. Witnesses:

M. R. REMLEY, G. Y. THORPE. 

